North Macedonia

Air care overall recorded a decline in volume sales growth in 2023 as current value sales rose in response to rising unit prices. Inflationary pressures and diminished disposable personal incomes prompted many consumers tend to trade down to…

Despite the economic challenges and negative demographic trends in 2023, alcoholic drinks witnessed moderate total volume growth in North Macedonia. The rising number of inbound tourists boosted the performance of most alcoholic drinks categories in…

Analgesics continues to achieve strong value growth in North Macedonia in 2023 as a result of strong consumer demand for systemic analgesics, especially adult ibuprofen, adult acetaminophen and adult aspirin. Topical analgesics are outperforming…

In North Macedonia, public and private sector investments in away-from-home tissue and hygiene products remained stable in 2023, resulting in moderate volume growth. In combination with the significant price increases and the impact of inflation,…

High inflation continued to impact baby and child-specific products in North Macedonia in 2023. There was only a minimal increase in constant value sales, with volume sales falling marginally, as the birth rate continued to fall. Medicated products…

Baby food is witnessing marginal declines in retail volume terms, due to the falling birth rate and negative population trends in Macedonia. The declining numbers of live births to Macedonian women in recent years has limited demand for baby food,…

Baked goods achieves minimal volume growth as leavened bread, which is the most significant product range within the category, achieves modest retail volume growth in 2023. Consumer demand in retail volume terms continues to slow as a result of the…

It was a dismal year for bath and shower in North Macedonia in 2023, with both constant value and volume sales falling. Inflation continued to be high and the continuing rising costs cut into players’ profit margins. A declining population also led…

It was a muted picture for beauty and personal care in North Macedonia in 2023. Inflation was still high, though it eased somewhat. However, measures to contain inflation took their toll on consumption. As a result, while beauty and personal…

Beer consumption slowed in North Macedonia over 2023 although total volume sales held steady. With inflation remaining well above normal levels, current value sales grew in double-digits with high prices across all beer categories. The off-trade saw…

Bleach continued to see substantial volume sales falls in 2023, posting the deepest decline recorded across all of home care. Bleach suffers from drastically reduced population among local consumers, undermining demand. However, the category managed…

Tap water in most parts of the country remains suitable for human consumption and in certain areas is of excellent quality despite ongoing concerns about overall environmental pollution. However, as health and wellness trends continue to impact soft…

Muesli and granola and hot cereals are the two largest breakfast cereals categories whose performance tends to influence the overall performance of breakfast cereals in North Macedonia. Due to the moderate volume growth of these two cereal types,…

The butter and spreads category is seeing marginal volume decline in 2023 as inflationary pressures continue to take its toll. While margarine and spreads continues to decline in retail volume terms, butter is growing moderately despite the shrinking…

In 2023, carbonates achieved minimal off-trade volume growth as consumer demand was significantly impacted by the negative image that carbonates has gained amongst increasingly health conscious consumers, largely, though not entirely, due to the…

In the face of rising prices, cheese consumption remains stable in retail volume terms as this product range remains a popular item in everyday cuisine. Its versatility is a key reason for such high demand, as it can be used in preparing various…

Chocolate confectionery is witnessing a more upbeat performance in 2023, with retail volume sales returning to growth. There has been a significant number of new chocolate products launched in 2023, which has captured consumer interest and boosted…

Due to inconsistent consumer demand in North Macedonia, cider/perry witnessed volatility in sales over the review period. In 2023, cider/perry sales bounced back amid growing demand with double-digit volume growth and even stronger current value…

As was the case throughout the review period, cigarettes in North Macedonia saw retail volume sales contract in 2023 as smoking prevalence among the adult population continued to fall in line with rising health-consciousness. Having recently become…

Fine cut tobacco was the most dynamic performer within cigars, cigarillos and smoking tobacco in North Macedonia in retail volume growth terms in 2023. This product type continued to gain ground as an economical substitute for cigarettes as unit…

In 2023, coffee achieved very strong off-trade value growth. Whilst retail volume growth was moderate, significant unit price increases across all coffee categories, including the largest ones such as standard fresh ground coffee, led to a…

Despite continuing high inflation, and also a falling population, colour cosmetics in North Macedonia registered some volume growth in 2023. However, with prices continuing to rise, consumers adopted some economising behaviours and for instance…

Concentrates registered decline in off-trade volume terms in 2023 as liquid concentrates sales fell due to diminishing consumer demand. At the same time, thanks to the significant unit price increases in the context of high rates of general…

Despite higher standards of living in North Macedonia, economic challenges resulting in low disposable incomes remain, with the situation further exacerbated by the ongoing war in Ukraine. This has led to double-digit inflation, which is increasing…

In 2023, cooking ingredients and meals experienced robust volume growth alongside strong double-digit percentage increases in value terms. These achievements were largely driven by ongoing inflationary pressure and rising unit prices across all…

Cough, cold and allergy (hay fever) remedies is seeing slower growth in 2023 due to a shorter cold season caused by milder winter 2022/2023. The exception is antihistamines, which continues to grow at a solid rate due to high consumer demand amidst…

Dairy products and alternatives is witnessing a slowdown in retail volume growth and strong current value growth in 2023, amidst strong inflationary pressure and rising unit prices of dairy products. Production costs have remained high since the…

With prices continuing to rise for deodorants in North Macedonia in 2023, there was a fall in constant value sales, as rising costs hit profit margins. Volume growth was also minimal. Deodorants sprays continued to account for most value sales and…

Though there was double-digit growth in current value sales of depilatories in North Macedonia in 2023, volume growth was minimal and constant value sales fell slightly. Continuing high inflation, as well as a declining population, dampened value…

In line with the overall performance of skin care products in beauty and personal care in North Macedonia, dermatologicals is one of the fastest growing consumer health category thanks to strong and continued consumer demand. The product and brand…

Dietary supplements are seeing a strong double-digit increase in retail value sales in 2023 as a result of rising unit prices amidst rampant inflation in the country. Volume growth, meanwhile, is driven by the health and wellness trend and people…

Amidst significant unit price increases and inflation, digestive remedies is experiencing double-digit retail value growth in 2023, making a strong rebound following the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions and people resuming travel. Paediatric…

In 2022, though there was healthy growth in current value sales, constant value sales remained unchanged. The war in Ukraine had a negative impact, with the resultant energy crisis leading to soaring inflation and dampening sales somewhat. That being…

Overall volume sales in dishwashing stagnated in 2023, with consumer demand waning in response to high inflation and rising unit prices. Automatic dishwashing continued to see strong and steady rises as one of the better-performing product areas,…

In 2023, increased fodder prices have driven up unit prices of locally sourced raw milk, as well as the price of domestic and regional drinking milk brands. Nonetheless, consumer demand remains stable due to the abundance of locally and regionally…

In 2023, edible oils witnessed stagnant retail volume growth, primarily due to static consumer demand and the saturation of leading categories, notably sunflower oil. Despite this, inflation significantly impacted unit prices, resulting in robust…

In 2023, energy drinks saw off-trade volume sales rise as demand was driven by the younger generation of consumers, mostly Millennials and Gen Z, whose demand increased as they resumed partying and socialising after the disruption resulting from the…

Overall , it was a muted picture for fragrances in North Macedonia in 2023, with both constant value sales and overall volume sales falling. Continuing high inflation and population decline dampened value sales. Premium outperformed mass, with volume…

In 2022, though there was healthy growth in current value sales, constant value sales fell. The war in Ukraine had a negative impact, with the resultant energy crisis leading to soaring inflation and dampening volume sales. In addition, there was…

Gum continues to gradually recover from the pandemic in 2023, although retail volume sales are still declining marginally. Gum increasingly has a bad name, due to its high sugar content and bad environmental reputation in terms of disposability, and…

It was a muted picture for hair care in North Macedonia in 2023, with high inflation continuing to hit profit margins and a declining population also dampening volume growth. Standard shampoo continued to account for most value sales, but more niche…

An improved quality of life, higher living standards, and the health and wellness trend (and its associated link with more natural products) is driving volume sales of herbal/traditional products in 2023. Also, consumers are increasingly prepared to…

Overall home care recorded robust current value growth in North Macedonia in 2023, mainly as result of the impact of inflation and substantial unit price rises. In terms of volume sales growth, however, most home care categories saw stagnation or…

Home insecticides saw retail volume declines in 2023 as local consumers were forced to prioritise purchases and cut down on less-essential products. Further, over 2022-23, North Macedonia saw a reduced number of flying and crawling insects,…

Hot drinks achieved minimal retail volume growth and strong retail value growth in 2023 amidst rising unit prices and the broader impact of inflation. The recovery of hot drinks sales through foodservice continued during the year and the channel…

Consumer demand for ice cream remains strong in 2023, even after the category’s full recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. The scorching heat in 2023 has led to high demand for ice cream driving up impulse purchases. Inflation and rising unit prices…

Juice achieved stable off-trade volume growth in 2023 with sales supported by the continued consumer demand for the largest product categories, especially nectars and juice drinks. In addition, the continued shift from carbonates to juice is having a…

Laundry care in North Macedonia saw double-digit current value growth in 2023, thanks to rising unit prices against a background of high inflation. Overall volume sales within laundry care, however, were largely stagnant in 2023, with diminished…

Mass beauty and personal care still accounted for significantly more value sales than premium in North Macedonia in 2023. However, with inflation still being high, there was only a slight increase in constant value sales, as rising costs hit profit…

In 2023, meals and soups experienced continued robust retail volume growth, propelled by the solid performance of shelf-stable ready meals and frozen pizza. Despite being the largest category, soups faced a moderate decline due to shifting consumer…